As many as 40 cooks, headed by a chief cook from Rajahmundry, will use all the tips in the book to satiate the palate of 3,100-odd athletes and officials, who will descend on Vijayawada for the five-day 30th Reliance Jio National Junior Athletic Championship, which begins at the IGMC stadium on November 26.
Working on three shifts, they will showcase their culinary skills at the mammoth make-shift kitchen that is coming up at the handball court.
“Fifteen cooks will take turns everyday and dish out both south and north Indian cuisines. But, the emphasis will be on ‘roti’ and ‘puri’ and north Indian ‘sabjis’, as a good number of athletes are from northern, eastern and western parts of India where wheat dishes are popular,” said Andhra Pradesh Athletic Association secretary A.V. Raghavendra.
Impromptu dining hall
An impromptu dining hall is coming up at the handball court, which will have a huge shamiyana with end-to-end carpeting.
“Dining halls will be separate for men and women. A special enclosure will be in place for technical and federation officials,” said former District Sports Development Officer B. Sudhakar, who oversees the arrangements.
Breakfast will comprise bread, butter and jam and boiled eggs.
“Milk and beverages like coffee and tea will be served along with ‘idli’, ‘upma’, ‘dosa’, ‘puri’ and ‘vada’. Mineral water will be served on all six days.
“Breakfast will be available between 6.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.,” Mr. Sudhakar added.
Lunch will be a vegetarian spread and moderately spicy. “We need to keep in mind that the athletes are going to take part in the events and less spice will keep their tummy in good shape,” opines Mr. Sudhakar.
After tea and snacks in the evening, dinner will be a spread with a non-vegetarian dish.
“We will serve a chicken dish along with roti and eggs. Along with regular meals, a dessert will be served.”
A ‘bada khana’ (grand banquet) will be organised for the visiting athletes on November 28 along with a musical fare.
The organisers are keen on keeping good many waste bins to keep the hall clean and hygienic. “We will come up with banners requesting participants to use bins,” Raghavendra said.
